Ashes transport guide

Bringing ashes home from Guyana

You have ashes in Guyana and need to bring them home. This page covers what Guyana requires before they can leave.

Quick reference

What does Guyana require before ashes can leave?

Cremation facilities are available in Georgetown. The Hindu community uses cremation. Ashes can be repatriated to the UK. Export of ashes requires cremation certificate and Ministry of Public Health clearance.

Routing from Guyana: Guyana has no direct UK flights. Repatriation routes via Miami (American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines), New York JFK (Caribbean Airlines), or Barbados/Trinidad as Caribbean hub connections. Caribbean Airlines flies Georgetown-London Gatwick with connection. Total cargo journey 3 to 6 days from Georgetown to the UK.

Departure airports: Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO), Timehri; Eugene F. Correia International Airport (OGL), Ogle (domestic and regional)

Documentation language: English

Authority that must release the case: General Register Office for death registration; Magistrate's Court for coroner inquests; police for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Public Health for export documentation

The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.

What are the airline rules for carrying ashes?

If you are connecting through a third country on this routing, that country's rules apply to the transit as well, and should be checked separately.

What does Guyana require to export ashes?

Cremation availability

Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Guyana due to religious or legal reasons. If you are dealing with ashes from a previous cremation held elsewhere, the export rules may differ. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.

What affects the cost?

Carrying ashes home yourself is the least expensive way to bring someone back from Guyana, and for many families it costs little more than the return flight they are already taking. We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.

What changes the cost	Why
Whether the cremation has already taken place	Arranging it locally adds funeral director and crematorium involvement
Where the death happened	Distance to the nearest crematorium changes local transfer
Carrying versus shipping	Hand luggage costs nothing extra; a specialist courier is a separate arrangement
Documentation Guyana requires	Export permits and translation, where they apply

Send us the details of your situation and we will give you a figure, with no obligation.

Full repatriation guide

Complete guide: repatriation from Guyana

Official support

British Embassy in Guyana: contacts and what consular staff can do

Need guidance?

We can help with ashes transport

We deal with General Register Office for death registration; Magistrate's Court for coroner inquests; police for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Public Health for export documentation and the local crematorium directly.

Send an enquiry

Further guidance

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Guyana